Sub-Saharan Africa's textile and garment industry once employed several million workers across Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, before Chinese import competition and cheap secondhand clothing (mitumba) decimated domestic production from the 1980s onward. Employment has fallen sharply from the sector's peak. Ethiopia's garment park revival, attracting brands including H&M, PVH, and Calzedonia to its Hawassa and Bole Lemi industrial parks, has partially reversed this trend, employing over 60,000 workers at peak. Kenya's Export Processing Zones under AGOA host garment factories employing approximately 50,000 workers.
What It Takes to Compete
Success in garment manufacturing requires the combination of low wage costs (below $150 per month for assembly), reliable power, duty-free access to major markets, and proximity to cotton or yarn supply. Ethiopia met these criteria better than any other African country in the 2015 to 2022 period. Post-conflict recovery is restoring that advantage. AfCFTA's rules of origin for textiles, which allow cumulation across member states for fabric and yarn content, could enable a pan-African textile chain. Textile sector investors and garment buyers can access African manufacturing contacts on intra-africa.com.
For businesses looking to expand across Africa, intra-africa.com offers a comprehensive trade directory, verified buyer and seller listings, and real-time market intelligence covering all 54 African nations. It remains an indispensable resource for anyone serious about intra-African commerce.